Methotrexate for Breast Cancer

Overview
Methotrexate is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and severe psoriasis. Methotrexate is sometimes prescribed off-label to treat breast cancer. Methotrexate is sold under brand names including Rheumatrex and Trexall. Methotrexate may be prescribed in combination with other drugs as part of a chemotherapy regimen.

Methotrexate is an antimetabolite and an immunomodulator. Methotrexate is believed to fight breast cancer by interfering with cell growth and division.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that methotrexate is taken once per week.

Methotrexate comes in the form of an oral tablet or an intramuscular, intravenous, or intrathecal injection.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for methotrexate lists common side effects including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, indigestion, mouth sores, rash, pharyngitis, diarrhea, abnormal results on liver function tests, headache, bronchitis, low blood counts, hair loss, dizziness, sensitivity to light, and skin lesions that may feel like they’re burning.

Rare but serious side effects listed for methotrexate include organ damage, decreased fertility, impaired kidney or liver function, severe dizziness or fatigue, and death.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Methotrexate — MedlinePlus
https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682019.html

Methotrexate — Drugs.com
https://www.drugs.com/methotrexate.html